Joan Lunden, the beloved former Good Morning America anchor, recently celebrated a huge milestone: five years of being cancer-free. And let me tell you, she’s not just surviving—she’s thriving. Joan is grateful for so many things, and she’s here to share some wisdom with all of us.
Life-Changing Perspective
“I remember someone once told me, ‘You’ll go into breast cancer treatment as one person, and you’ll come out as someone completely different.’ And let me tell you, they were absolutely right,” Joan exclusively told Closer during the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Symposium and Awards Luncheon in NYC. “You develop a deeper understanding of the love, compassion, and unwavering support that comes from your friends and family. It’s like your whole world shifts, and you start seeing things in a whole new light.”
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A New Lease on Life
At 69 years young, Joan has noticed a significant change in herself since her battle with cancer. She’s become kinder to strangers, more patient, and more appreciative of the little things in life. “I find myself driving along the road to my office and looking around, and instead of getting irritated with that slow driver in front of me, I’m thinking, ‘Wow, these trees are absolutely breathtaking!’ ” she shares. “I don’t know if I would have been in that mindset five years ago. It’s like I’ve developed this newfound appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.”
Opening Up About Her Journey
This isn’t the first time Joan has opened up about her battle with cancer. In fact, she’s always been open about the fact that, in a strange twist of fate, her diagnosis turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to her. “Ironically, my breast cancer diagnosis, which should have been the worst year of my life, ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me,” she told First for Women. “I think anyone who goes through cancer and survives it will tell you the same thing—they come out a different person on the other side. You’re more appreciative of every single day, every single moment, and every single thing in your life.”
Joan continues, “I have so many things I’m doing, learning, and exploring. I have so many goals and aspirations that make me want to make the most out of my time here on Earth. All of that fills me with excitement and purpose each and every day.”
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